Tourists visit Cengcuoan, a fishing village that has become a tourist spot in Xiamen, Fujian province. Provided to China Daily

Restoration of the ecological system in Fujian province needs to be further strengthened in 2016 while maintaining a high GDP growth rate, officials at the provincial People's Congress said on Friday.

The provincial GDP is forecast to grow by 8.5 percent this year, two percentage points higher than the national average, according to a government report.

"There are definite improvements in the environment in the last year, but further efforts are needed in less-developed rural areas, especially in small watershed management," said Yu Weiguo, Fujian governor. Yu emphasized that the government needs to maintain a good balance between economic development and the environment.

Fujian province in China. Image: bwpi

The water quality of 12 major rivers in Fujian has remained good in the past year, officials said. Around 90 percent of rivers are within levels I to III, according to the report. Rivers are graded from I to V, with I being the best and V the worst.​Cooperation between experts from Taiwan and the government in Xiamen has set an example for villages as they prepare to help manage small watersheds in their areas.​